Juniors at Luther Classical College will have the opportunity to be nominated to compete for a Truman Scholarship. Named in honor of America’s thirty-third president, the Truman Foundation seeks to identify and support the next generation of the USA’s leaders by recognizing and rewarding students committed to careers in public service. The Foundation seeks to develop and support students with a history of community service who desire to influence public policies and change public programs. The Harry S. Truman Foundation oversees the highly competitive national award. Each year, only 55 to 65 students are selected as Truman Scholars. These students aspire to leadership positions within the government, nonprofits, or education. To achieve this goal, Truman Scholars receive substantial benefits from the Truman Foundation: up to $30,000 for graduate study and extensive support through foundation-run programs. Dr. Ryan MacPherson, Academic Dean, is excited about this opportunity for LCC’s students: “Considering LCC’s leadership in shaping American education, there will be students who will naturally fit the Truman Foundation’s criteria for a Truman Scholar.”
“It is a great honor for LCC to be able to nominate students to the Truman competition,” says Dr. Caleb Karges, Dean of Students, who serves as LCC’s Truman Program Advisor. “For a student, to receive a nomination from your college is a badge of distinction in and of itself, as the program is highly competitive. Not all years will produce nominees. Nevertheless, students should aspire to the Truman scholarship just for the benefits found in the journey itself. The application process alone is valuable for a student’s personal growth and development as it forces a student to undergo intense self-reflection. Likewise, it provides a student with great experience in putting together an application for a competitive program.”
The Truman Scholarship is open to US citizens in their junior year of study, who plan to attend graduate school and pursue a career in public service. Luther Classical College’s first class of students will be eligible to compete in 2027, and LCC can nominate up to four students per year for the Truman competition. Students who complete an A.A. degree at LCC are also eligible for nomination. They can be nominated the year after they complete their A.A. and transfer to a four-year institution. These students can receive a nomination from either Luther Classical College or their new institution. Luther Classical College is one of only two institutions in Wyoming that offer students the opportunity to compete in the Truman Scholars program.
As LCC’s Truman Program Advisor, Dr. Karges will oversee LCC’s selection and nomination process for the competition. Interested students can contact him for further information. They can also learn more at the Truman Foundation’s website by going to truman.gov/apply.